We need to know what is meant by personal development before we can fully understand its importance. We also need to understand what it means and what it takes to plan personal development. Personal development is a path that you take to better your family situation, career, spirituality, emotional health, and every other aspect of your life. Essentially, personal development is about making conscious decisions about everything that you do, the way that you think, and the way that you react to situations.

Personal development can help you obtain everything that you always dreamed of, and more, with the simple application of a few simple mind sets and tools. Personal development planning is also the process of creating an action plan based on awareness, values, reflection, goal-setting and planning for personal development within the context of a career, education, relationship or for self-improvement.The PDP (personal development plan) which is also interchangeable with IDP (individual development plan) or PEP (personal enterprise plan), usually includes a statement of one's aspirations, strengths or competencies, education and training, and stages or steps to indicate how the plan is to be realized. Personal development plans may also include a statement of one's career and lifestyle priorities, career positioning, analysis of opportunities and risks, and alternative plans (Plan B), and curriculum vitae.

There are so many reasons why individual need to develop himself. Just as a quote that says “If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awakes all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation. ” Those words rightly define how important it is for individual to continuously develop himself. In this section I will explain some few good reasons why we all need continuous self-development plan.

Increased Personal Value to the Society A good personal development plan that is executed with consistency and discipline will increase the personal value of a person to society. Imagine a person hurling trash for a living who earns 5 pounds an hour. It is possible for this person to improve in his abilities and service to his company better if he is able to hurl trash faster or in more hygienic ways, that additional value will be recognized. It won’t be long that his company will recognize his extra touches and pay him higher accordingly.This can only be possible by adopting a good personal development plan and working hard on himself. Becoming a Better Team Player A good personal development plan will have a sub plan to look into improving the relationships of the person.

Personal development has it that all human activities are based on sound human relationships. Therefore, the better the relationships, the better the impact of a personal development plan. As you build good relationships in your family, with your friends and with your working peers, the synergy and team work improves.More impact can be created in all that you are doing together. A sound personal development plan develops this form of team work and leadership in you.

Maximizing Life’s Experiences When you go on a personal development journey, you will realize that one of the key tenets is to experience life to the fullest. A good personal development plan helps you to seek more new frontiers and skills to acquire. Living life is about learning and experiencing as much of our world as possible as we all know that we live to learn.Only with a wide mind set and skill set will we be able to contribute effectively. Providing greater affluence In making greater contributions and impact to society, untold wealth will be a by-product.

A good personal development plan when properly executed will attract success and its by-products to you in time naturally. A person on a personal development journey does not need to go out seeking success. Success and affluence will come to you in many ways on their own accord. Enhancing Gifts and TalentsWhen you start a personal development plan, another discovery about yourself you will make will be your talent and natural gifts, what your inside person really is. The process of personal development helps us to unlock our hidden potentials and open up new avenues for us to contribute in other more effective ways.

Such natural gifts and talents when utilized properly can have great impact for you and others within the organization and the society at large. Inspiring Others When all is said and done, personal development is as well about inspiring others.When we start to work on ourselves first, and we become successful in our lives, so many people will be ready to gain from our organizational experience, and then we will become mentors, coaches and teachers of life. We will help others form their personal development plan for success in life. The maxim of personal development has always been “if I could do it you could do it. ” Doing What You Love When you embark on a personal development plan, inevitably you will be led to discovering your passion and purpose in life.

One of the first parts of a personal development plan is to seek alignment with your higher calling and discovering your own strengths and weaknesses. It is also about drawing the line between what you can do and what your real talents are. The next stage involves making the shift to start actively pursuing what you love to do. When you are able to do this, it enhances the meaning of life.

Your efforts and work becomes more purposeful and exciting to you. That is one of the trademarks of a person engaged in his own continuous personal development plan.